Locking mechanism



June 27, 1933.

G. BULLERI LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 16, 1932 INVENTOR. GIUSEPPE BULLEE Patented June 27, 1933 GIUSEIPPE BULLER-I, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA I nocxme MECHANISM Application filed November 16, 1932. Serial No. 642,847.

This invention relates particularly to a safe made of reinforced concrete or a similar monolithic substance, and including a locking apparatus for lockingthe door of said safe. An object of the invention is to provide a locking apparatus for a safe consisting of a key actuated slide bolt, access of the key to the slide bolt'being prevented by means of a plate interposed between the slide bolt and key,'said platebeing operable by an actuator concealed within the safe door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking apparatus for a safe that will be superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness of operation, and facility and convenience in use and general efliciency.

In this specification and the annexed drawing, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the descrip tion, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawlng:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a safe preferably formed of a reinforced monolithic substance, and having the door locking device therein constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the door lock,

partly broken away to show the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken thru Fig. 2 on the line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of the key-hole covering plate concealed within the lock.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawing comprises a cubical safe formed of reinforced concrete or other similar monolithic substance, the wall of said safe being of suitable thickness to prevent free and easy destruction by burglars, safe crackers and the like.

The safe is generally designated by the numeral 1, and in accordance with conventional practice, would have a hollow interior suitably partitioned ofi for the storage of valuables.

Access 'to the interior of the safe is had thru a door 2 which is suitably hinged in relatlon to the opening into the safe. The

inside face of the door 2 is provided with a lockmg mechanism 3 for locking the door in closed position. Additional lock doors may be provided to the rear of the main door on the inside of the safe.

The lockingmechanism 3 is comprised of a metallic frame work 4 which is suitably secured by nuts 5 onto studs 6 which are a part of the reinforcing material of the door 2. A slide bolt 7 is slidably confined in the frame work 4 and is adapted to be reciprocated relative thereto.

The lower edge of the slide bolt 7 ismade in the form of a gear rack as at 8, or it may be otherwvisesuitably serrated. The; door 2 is provided with akey-hole 9, said key-hole having a substantially diamond shaped cross sect-ion. A key 10 is adapted to have the diamond shaped head 11 therein projected revolution.

In order to securely engage the slide bolt 7 withthe strike plate or similar part in the safe structure, it might be necessary to make three or four complete revolutions of the key head in order to project the slide bolt 7 a sufficient distance out from the casing with in which it is confined. In order to prevent further movement of the slide bolt 7, I have provided a spring tumbler '12 within an open chamber 13 provided directly below the toothed slide bolt 7. One end of the spring tumbler 12 is fixed in the lock casing 4, while the other end of said latch is bowed upwardly to engage in the notches in the slide bolt. An expansion spring 14 is arranged below the tumbler 12'to urge the free end thereof ,upwardly into contact with the toothed portionof the slide bolt.

The end of the tumbler 12 engaging the slide bolt prevents the moving of said bolt in either direction. The free end of the tumbler 12 is automatically disengaged from the notches in the slide bolt by an end of the key head opposite the opening, engaging one of the notches in the slide bolt. The disengagement of the tumbler from the slide ,bolt is done automatically as the, head on the key is turned, so that the ,slide bolt is advanced or retracted the distance of one notch, and thereafter, the tumbler member automatically engages the notch in the toothed portion to prevent movement thereof.

The safe whichI have illustrated is a relatively simple device, and it is my idea that the locking mechanism should likewise be of a similar simple nature. It will be obvious that the method of moving the slide bolt in and out through the instrumentality of the particular key'described, is a very simple one. However, in order to prevent the inserting of akey into the locking mechanism for actuating the slide bolt by someone not familiar with theapparatus, I have provided a plate 15 between the end of the keyhole 9 and the slide bolt. The plate 15 is pivoted at 16 at one end thereof in the lock casing, in such a manner that the other and heavier end of the plate 15 will drop by gravity and will rest in a closed position over the key-hole. covers the inner end of the key-hole, the key 10 when inserted, will merely strike said plate.

In order to raise the plate 15 so as to uncover the key-hole 9, I have attached a string or wire 17 to the heavier end of the plate 15, which string or wire extends thru a passageway 18 in the door. The passageway 18 is preferably made of such minute size that it would not be apparent to any one looking at the safe door, and the outer end of said passageway would probably be located near one of the outer corners of the door. The upper end of the string or cord 17 would be provided with a loop or eyelet 19 thereon, which could be readily gripped by a hook-shaped tool to enable said string or wire to be pulled to raise the plate 15 upwardly away from the key-hole. After theplate 15 has been lifted by the concealed wire, the key head 11 can be inserted into engagement with the slide bolt 7, and the slide bolt operated in the manner heretofore described.

An important feature of my invention is the secret and concealed wire 17 for operat 1n the plate 15. I-Iaving thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters'Patent 1s:

1. A key operated'lock including a frame; a bolt reciprocatingly confined in said frame and having atoothed portion formed thereon to be engaged by akey, to impart a plurality of unitsof reciprocative movement to the bolt with each single revolution of the key; and a bowed spring in the frame having an end engageable with the toothed portion of the slide bolt to prevent free movement thereof, said spring being disengaged from the slide bolt by a portion of the key in unison with the engagement of another portion of the key with the slide bolt to reciprocate the same.

2. A key operated lock including a frame; a bolt reciprocatingly confined in said frame and having a toothed portion formed thereon to be engaged by a key, said key having diametrically disposed projections on an end thereof to impart a series of two step reciprocative movements to the bolt with eachlcomplete revolution of the key; and a bowed spring in the frame having an end engageable with the toothed portion of the slide bolt to prevent free movement thereof, said spring being disengaged from the slide bolt by a key projection opposite the one engaged with the slide bolt to reciprocate the same.-

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this tth day of November, 1932.-

GIUSEPPE BULLERI,

Whenever the plate 15 

